Footrest structure



April 9, 1940.

1 H. GILSON 2,196,913

F0 OTREST STRUCTURE Filed March l5, 1939 Patented Apr. 9, 1940 PATE-NT OFFICE 2,196,913 n Foo'rREsT STRUCTURE@ Y v ti:

Leon H. Gilson, Washington, D. C. n v i Application March 15, 1939, Serial No.I 262,021

Claims. (ci. 5327) f f 'This invention relates to footrest structure. It is aimed to provide a device of this character adapted for use primarily when reposing or even when seated and to be positioned by Iabu'tment against various objects, for instance, footboards or beds, other furniture, baseboards, and the like.

A prime object is to provide a novel construction which is adjustable to accommodate itself i to the most efficient use and particularly so that it will be useful on beds whose mattresses project above the footboards.

I also provide a construction which is simple, inexpensive, has ample clearance for operation 'i ofthe parts thereof, and one which may be folded compactly so as to occupy minimum space and permit portage in a suitcase or other receptacle.

Various additional objects and advantages :will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating an operative embodiment, by way of example.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a bed, whose footboard extends above the mattress, showing my invention in use;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of a bed, whose footboard terminates below the top 1 of the mattress, showing my invention in use;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the invention alone; y

Figure 4 is a cross sectional View, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on theline 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the invention alone; and,

Figure 6 is an elevation showing the positioning bar and looking toward the inner face thereof.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, the invention has been illustrated in connection with beds A and B, as in Figures 1 and 2 respectively, by way of example only, and it is to be understood that it may be used by abutment against objects generally, such as baseboards, and furniture.

In carrying out the invention, I provide a positioning bar II) which may consist of a batten of Wood I I, preferably suitably upholstered, as at I2, which will not mar the surface or finish of a footboard, baseboard, furniture, or any other object against which it is adapted to abut. A metallic plate I3 is fastened along the inner surface of batten Il, as by means of screws or other fastenings I4. Said plate I3 has an elon-v gated slot I5 therein of any suitable length, andv the batten II in communication with the slot I5 is recessed, as at I6. y A boltl I1 is slidably disposed in the slotl I5 Uff and it has asquare portion I8 non-rotatably disposed in such slot. The bolt also has a head I9 which overlaps the inner surface of plate I3 and is accommodated in the recess I6. A winged or other nut is screw threaded to the bolt I1 and 1'0"?- the bolt between the winged nut and plate I3 passes vthrough an angular end or lug 2l of an elongated, preferably nat, metallic rod 22.

A detachable footrest is shown at 23, which' is preferably elongated and which may be of 15@ v any suitable width. This footrest has a rigid body 24, which is preferably upholstered, as at" 25, to any desired extent and in any preferredA manner. It ,will be notedthat the footrest 23 is disposed at a suitable angle and has a metal 203 strip 23asc`rewed thereto at bvwhich is detachably fastenedas by means of a screw 23C to hook-shaped end portion 2S` of an elongated,

preferably fiat, metallic rod 21.

The said rods 22 and 2,1 are slidably super- 25 posed so that the'distance between the footrestA and positioning bar may be lengthened or short-l ened, as is desirable according to the circum-v stances of use. To this end, a4 metallic strap 28 is fastened, as at 2S, to the rod 21 and it sur- 3m rounds the rod 22. Another metallic strap is welded, or otherwise secured, to the rod 22. Such strap 30 surrounds the rod 21 and a winged screw or .the like 32 is threaded in thestrap and adapted to bind against the rod 21. 35

In using the structure, the positioning bar III may be arranged in contact or abutment with any suitable object adjacent' to the user when reposing or even merely seated, and through the manipulation of the screw 32 and relative slid- 40 ing o-f the rods 22 and 21, the footrest 23 will be disposed in the mostadvantageous position. As shown by Figure 1, the device may rest on the mattress or clothing of the bed A, designated 31, with positioning bar I0 in a horizontal position 45 and abutting the footboard 34 aboveA such mattress. The footrest 23 will be adjusted to the l position most advantageous to the feet of the occupant of the bed.

In caseswhere the footboard of a bed, as at 35 50 in Fig. 2, does not extend above the mattress and clothing, the positioning bar is disposed at a right angle to the position Aof Figure 1, that is, in a vertical position, so as to project below the upper surface of the mattress and between the footboard 35 and the mattress and clothing 36. The said positioning bar may be readily adjusted through the manipulation of the nut 20. Since slot l5 is elongated, the positioning bar may also be disposed at a proper height.

Since the rods 22 and 21 collectively are of attenuated form and depend slightly below the positioning bar and footrest, they become embedded in the mattress and clothing of the bed, which is a material aid in overcoming lateral slipping or displacement of the structure under pressure of the feet.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall Within the spiritl and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A structure of the class described having a footrest, a positioning bar generally parallel thereto, superposed rods, means connecting said v rods for relative longitudinal adjustment, said rods being disposed substantially centrally of the footrest and being attenuated so as to embed in a mattress or the like, one of said rods having a generally hook-shaped terminal angularly connecting to the footrest, the other rod having an upstanding end portion, said positioning bar having an elongated slot, and a bolt engaging said slot and connected to the upstanding end portion enabling variation of the position of the posi- .itioning bar to facilitate engagement with vdissimilar objects.

2. A device of the character described comprising a longitudinally adjustable bar having an upstanding arm at one end, a footrest mounted i at the other end of said bar, a positioning bar at the lirst end of said bar extending transversely thereof and including a batten having its inner face formed with a longitudinally extending pocket, a strip secured against the inner face of said batten formed with a longitudinally extending slot opposite said pocket, a bolt having a head and a threaded shank formed with a squared portion, said bolt having its head disposed in said pocket and the squared portion of its shank passing through the slot of said strip and slidable longitudinally therein, the threaded portion of the shank being rotatably engaged through an opening in the arm of said bar, and a nut threaded upon the shank and engaging said arm to releasably clamp said positioning bar in a set position and permit turning adjustment of the positioning bar from a horizontal position to a vertical position and also permit longitudinal adjustment of the positioning bar when the nut is loosened. i

3. A device of the character described comprising a longitudinally adjustable bar having an upstanding arm at one end, a footrest at the other end of said bar and a positioning bar at the iirst end of said bar extending transversely thereof and including a batteri, a strip secured against the inner face of said hatten and formed with a longitudinally extending slot, a bolt having a shank formed with a squared portion passing through the slot and a threaded portion projecting from said strip and passing through an opening in said arm, and a nut threaded upon said shank to releasably clamp the positioning bar in a set position when tightened and permit turning adjustment of the positioning arm from a horizontal position to a vertical position and also permit longitudinal sliding adjustment of the positioning bar when loosened.

4. A device of the character described comprising a bar having an upstanding arm at one end, a footrest at the other end of said bar, a positioning bar at the first end of said bar including a member formed with a longitudinally extending slot, and a securing bolt having a shank formed with a nat-sided portion passing through said slot and a threaded portion passing through an opening in the arm and rotatable therein, said positioning bar lying in a plane transverse to the rst mentioned bar and being turnable with the bolt as a pivot from a horizontal position to a vertical position when the bolt is loosened and also being slidable along the nat-sided portion of the shank transversely of the bar to an adjusted position when the bolt is loosened.

5. A device of the character described comprising a bar having an upstanding arm at one end, a footrest carried by the other end of said bar and extending transversely thereof, a positioning bar at the first end of said bar including a member formed with a longitudinally extending slot, and a securing bolt having a shank passing through said slot and also passing through an opening in the arm and rotatable therein, means being provided to hold the bolt against rotation in the slot, said positioning bar lying in a plane transverse to the rst mentioned bar and being turnable with the bolt'as a pivot from a horizontal position to a vertical position when the bolt is loosened and also being slidable along the shank of the bolt to an adjusted position when the bolt is loosened.

LEON H. GIL'SON. 

